# Superman says you can slap a jap! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 23, 2005, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-says-you-can-slap-a-jap/309500 "2005-06-23T05:58:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2005, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-says-you-can-slap-a-jap/309500/21 "2005-06-23T19:30:02Z")
> [@Walloon](#): > > We _were_ at war with Japan at the time. “Slapping” them is putting it mildly (and “Jap” was standard on the front page headlines of most newspapers). As I was reading that, I kept thinking “The ‘jap’ stuff is probably some of the least disturbing stuff in this collection”. I’m more worryed about the fact he keeps killing/cheating on lois, toturing Jimmy Olson and Robin(okay, maybe not so much Robin), and screwing with Batman. And all with a smile on his face. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2005, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-says-you-can-slap-a-jap/309500/22 "2005-06-23T20:45:49Z")
Okay, can someone explain what the hell [this](http://www.superdickery.com/monkey/24.html) is all about? ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2005, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-says-you-can-slap-a-jap/309500/23 "2005-06-23T21:03:13Z")
That’s one of my favourite scenes from Grant Morrison’s run of Doom Patrol. The ape is, of course, Monsieur Mallah. The black robot is The Brain, who has hijacked Cliff Steele’s new body (It was being overhauled by the Chief and Dr Magnus). The body had attained some level of sentience of its own and didn’t want to be slaved to Cliff’s brain again. So it set itself to blow up if anyone put a brain in. Cue the arrival of Mallah and the Brain. Mallah inserts the Brain into the robot body. They chat a bit, confess their love for eachother, and have a bit of a snog. Then the body blows up. ---
**Author:** ![Stark\_Raven\_Mad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Stark\_Raven\_Mad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stark_Raven_Mad)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2005, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-says-you-can-slap-a-jap/309500/24 "2005-06-23T21:26:11Z")
I’m confused. When did “jap” become a racial slur? Why didn’t I get the memo? ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2005, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-says-you-can-slap-a-jap/309500/25 "2005-06-23T21:26:32Z")
I really want DC to finish TPB’ing that sucker. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2005, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-says-you-can-slap-a-jap/309500/26 "2005-06-23T21:26:58Z")
> [@Muad'Dib](#): > > [God damn, that guy is a dick.](http://www.superdickery.com/dick/1.html) Well, it was either that or “Shout at a Kraut.” That really doesn’t sell comic books. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2005, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-says-you-can-slap-a-jap/309500/27 "2005-06-23T21:39:24Z")
From now on I am going to refer to my penis as a Jap. That way I can slap a Jap daily. Twice on Saturdays. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2005, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-says-you-can-slap-a-jap/309500/28 "2005-06-23T21:47:17Z")
> [@Tengu](#): > > That’s one of my favourite scenes from Grant Morrison’s run of Doom Patrol. > > The ape is, of course, Monsieur Mallah. The black robot is The Brain, who has hijacked Cliff Steele’s new body (It was being overhauled by the Chief and Dr Magnus). > > The body had attained some level of sentience of its own and didn’t want to be slaved to Cliff’s brain again. So it set itself to blow up if anyone put a brain in. > > Cue the arrival of Mallah and the Brain. Mallah inserts the Brain into the robot body. They chat a bit, confess their love for eachother, and have a bit of a snog. Then the body blows up. I think I liked it better when I didn’t understand it. More dada. Actually, rereading the explanation, I still don’t understand it. The black robot Brain hijacked Cliff Steele’s body, but was still a black robot, so the Brain’s body expoded if it had Cliff’s brain instead of Brain’s brain? ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2005, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-says-you-can-slap-a-jap/309500/29 "2005-06-23T21:59:43Z")
> [@Stark Raven Mad](#): > > I’m confused. When did “jap” become a racial slur? I think it was sometime around 1941. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2005, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-says-you-can-slap-a-jap/309500/30 "2005-06-23T22:05:19Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > I think it was sometime around 1941. I suspect **Stark Raven Mad** may be from the UK, as “Jap” doesn’t seem to carry the pejorative connotation is does in the US. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2005, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-says-you-can-slap-a-jap/309500/31 "2005-06-23T22:06:29Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > I think it was sometime around 1941. A date which will live in infamy. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2005, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-says-you-can-slap-a-jap/309500/32 "2005-06-23T22:13:52Z")
[Here’s](http://www.superdickery.com/propaganda/1.html) the cover referenced in the title. When in the 1940’s, buy war bonds. ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2005, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-says-you-can-slap-a-jap/309500/33 "2005-06-23T22:14:50Z")
> [@pravnik](#): > > [Superman and Batman both have law licenses??](http://www.superdickery.com/dick/2.html) And Batman is a _criminal defense attorney??_ I actually own a fair amount of these Lois Lane comics. Not the one linked above but a pretty similar one. Lois is accused of murdering Lana Lang and Batman is her attorney in that one as well. Superman’s dickery in that issue is easily explained as being distraught to find out the woman he loves is a MURDERER. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2005, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-says-you-can-slap-a-jap/309500/34 "2005-06-23T22:24:52Z")
> [@Tengu](#): > > That’s one of my favourite scenes from Grant Morrison… Shit, man, that’s all you had to say. “What the hell is up with this?” “Grant Morrison.” “Oh, that explains it.” ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2005, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-says-you-can-slap-a-jap/309500/35 "2005-06-23T22:28:35Z")
HAH! This is true. I love the man, but he’s written some wierd crap. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2005, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-says-you-can-slap-a-jap/309500/36 "2005-06-23T22:35:52Z")
[Archie’s a bit of a dick, too](http://www.superdickery.com/other/190.html). ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2005, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-says-you-can-slap-a-jap/309500/37 "2005-06-23T22:37:36Z")
> [@pravnik](#): > > [Archie’s a bit of a dick, too](http://www.superdickery.com/other/190.html). Oh, lordy…go to the next one, too. ---
**Author:** ![Wolfian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7ea924/32.png) [@Wolfian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolfian)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2005, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-says-you-can-slap-a-jap/309500/38 "2005-06-23T23:38:39Z")
> [@pravnik](#): > > Oh, lordy…go to the next one, too. And the one after that. Tee hee. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2005, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-says-you-can-slap-a-jap/309500/39 "2005-06-23T23:49:16Z")
> [@Wolfian](#): > > And the one after that. > > Tee hee. I started to post that one, too…in fact, the whole “Sexual Innuendo” portion of the [site index](http://www.superdickery.com/siteindex.html) had me a-twitter. [Batman’s Boner](http://www.superdickery.com/seduction/3.html) nearly killed me. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2005, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-says-you-can-slap-a-jap/309500/40 "2005-06-24T00:44:33Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > You can watch [Eleventh Hour](http://www.archive.org/details/superman_eleventh_hour) on the Internet Why are Clark and Lois in a Yokohama hotel in 1942? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-says-you-can-slap-a-jap/309500.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-says-you-can-slap-a-jap/309500.md?page=3)